The race in Massachusetts has never been closer than 15 points since Obama knocked Hillary Clinton out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in early June.

No Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984 has carried Massachusetts, the home of Senator John Kerry, who was the Democratic Party’s standard bearer in 2004.

Rasmussen Markets data gives Obama a
% of winning Massachusetts’ 12 Electoral College votes this fall. The state is currently rated as “Safely Democratic” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator.

Nationally, Obama has been maintaining a steady lead in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll since the turmoil on Wall Street began leading the news.

In Massachusetts, Obama leads among male voters by 25 points and among women by 29 points. He also has a 57% to 39% lead among unaffiliated voters.

The Democrat is viewed favorably by 67% of Massachusetts voters and unfavorably by 33%. Forty-nine percent (49%) have a favorable opinion of McCain, while 50% regard him unfavorably.

Interestingly, 22% say Obama would scare them the most if he showed up at their door at Halloween, compared to just 13% who say that of McCain. Scariest by far though for 42% is McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, while Joseph Biden, who is running with Obama, would scare just 10% the most.

Sixty percent (60%) also think it is at least somewhat likely that Massachusetts’ African-American governor, Deval Patrick, will join the Cabinet should Obama be elected president.

Forty-nine percent (49%) rate the economy as the number one issue in the election, while 21% see national security as most important.

Massachusetts voters trust Obama more than McCain on both the economy (59% to 35%) and national security (54% to 42%).